England go 12 rounds with France and win on points

Chris O'Keefe

Two heavyweights went to war in Paris on Saturday night and the Stade De France might as well have become Madison Square Garden for the night. One thing is for certain. It was the fight of the century where souls where sacrificed and so where bodies. Not pretty, but a war of attrition.

The first round, Les Bleus lower their guard to a box kick - a preverbial jab if you will - Damien Traille pays with a huge blow from Josh Lewsey. Taking the retaliation, Lewsey powers through, first blood England.

France go to their jab, their fly half, the loose play, constantly chipping away at the English guard. Chabal, the French equivalent of the haymaker knockout blow, is entered into the fray. Can the impact player make the impact this far out from the final whistle?

Only a couple of kicks, light hits, not damaging. England now behind on points, and heading for the ropes. France put more points on the scorecard, but not England to the sword. Chabal, pounding away, England standing tall and taking the punishment. Then the cross-field kick.

Imanol Harinordiquy, taps back and Vincent Clerc has an open target. The killer punch, surely? Enter Joe Worsley, his own tap, Clerc's ankles lose his balance and the chance seems gone. Chabal trying to hit through the rearguard, not to be. The referee intervenes and England breathe again.

Now England believe they can snatch the honours with their counter punching. Wilkinson a rapier boot, normally, is off target, but for how long? Not long at all, as Robinson takes a blow to head for his trouble. Jonny, with precision, strikes and French heads begin to drop. 11-9 in the final exchanges. Then Chabal the menace, the brut, the player to fear gets in trouble with the referee for an illegal shot. Not only had heads dropped but France were losing theirs with indiscipline.

A kick to touch and England tried to set up the killer blow, the inevitable shot that everyone knows, opponents try to stop it but still fail to succeed. Jonny Wilkinson's boot. He nearly got through with a right foot effort early in the second half but was denied by the post. France were still standing. However, when England pounded away with the travelling maul setting up the final punch. Wilkinson getting into position, delivers with a kick travelling alomst in slow motion.

France on the canvas and need a knockout blow. England hold out to the final bell and the referee confirms it. They've beaten their heavyweight rivals for the crown and one win away from eternal glory.

It may not have been pretty, indeed it was brutal but it was an interesting spectacle and a test of resolve and commitment to the cause. You can keep your Rumbles in the Jungle and Thriller's in Manila, this was the heavyweight contest to behold. Next week, there's another one...somebody should call Don King really!

Picture: IrishRugby.ie

From prevrebial breakdown to winning the breakdown

Chris O'Keefe

What a difference one performance can make. Before Marseille last Saturday, talk was of England just trying to avoid an embarrassing defence of their crown and whether they could scrape past Tonga just to reach a match against Australia.

Suddenly after a performance of vigour - not seen by an Englishman or indeed the rugby fraternity since those heady days in Australia - England and their followers are realistically considering being the first side to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup. Unthinkable, at the end of last year, when Andy Robinson was relieved of his duties. Even at the beginning of this tournament, ranked a lowly seventh, the prospects of England playing competitive rugby seemed a distant wish.

The performance against South Africa lacked imagination, commitment and direction in the kicking and phases of play as Brian Ashton's men went nowhere whilst leaking points in defence.

However, since that fateful night England have stopped fretting about how to stop a team and have started playing their own game. From the kick off of the Samoa game the purpose was there and, admittedly with a few changes to the side and a Mr Wilkinson back, a cutting edge.

The defeat of Australia had much to do with a fantastic performance from the pack, in which they dominated the breakdown, made a huge number of turnovers and broke through the game line as Australia under the physical force. England back row, Nick Easter said he looked at the Australian players around ten minutes into the second half and believed England had them beaten.

How long has it been since an England side could say that of an opponent and proverbially stride with confidence into a major test match. As Easter suggested, confidence never wavered within the dressing room, even if the confidence was never around anywhere else.

That said England failed to score a try, a may have to be more clinical when taking chances. On a number of occasions chances were wasted to score a try which would have settled the game long before Stirling Mortlock missed his penalty.

The French are a different prospect. A great pack and plenty of attacking options in the back line. England must prepare as if the French will bring the best game to the Stade de France and fight fire with fire! No player can give anything less than their best.

Although the French are favourites, England have plenty of experience of beating Les Bleus and both sides had equally brutal quarter finals as the bruises will show. Jonny Wilkinson's boot has put French sides of the past to the sword and Paul Sackey, Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey will pose a regular threat to the French try-line. And then of course the pack, still eager to prove their worth.

No one says it is going to be easy, but it is, most certainly, a possibility. A final with England involved? We've seen stranger sights!